Draft device.



DAVID W STAPI), OF PIIILLIPSISURG, KANSAS.

DRAFT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18,1907.

applicatif-'.1 filed September 14,1906. Serial No. 334,645.

To all whom, it T11/ay concer/t:

Be it known that l., Davie Vf. Sit-oer, a citizen of the United States, residing at Phillipsbnrg, in the county of Ihillips and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Draft Device, or" which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to draft devices or draw bars such are used in connection with passenger and freight cars.

The objects of the invention are to improve and simplify the construction of such devices; furthermore, to increase their elliciency in operation and to decrease the expense attending their manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear' as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made. within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriiicing any of its advantages.

In the accompanying dra-wings forming part of this sl'iecification z-lfigure 1 is a horizontal section, partly in eleva-thm, through a device constructed in accordance with the invention, said device being provided with a safety attachment for use on passenger' ca s; Fig. L. is a transverse vertical section; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the device without the safety attachment and adapted to be used on a freight car; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the retaining members used for holding the follower plates and springs in position.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of t-he drawings.

The steel draft timbers of the device of the present invention preferably comprise a top plate 1 having depending webs 2 formed at their lower ends with outwardly-direeted flanges 3 towhich is secured a bottom plate 4 having para-lle! ribs 5 which fit upwardinto the space between the webs 2. The bottom plate 4 is held against the flanges 2% by means such as the. rods 6. The draw bar 7, which at its knuckle end may be of any suitaide forni and construction, extends into the spa-ce between the top' 1, webs 2 and bottom plate 4, said draw bar being held upward against the top plate 1 b v means of the ribs 5 on the bottom plate For the purpose of permitting' the necessary forward. and backward yielding movement of the draw bar 7, said draw bar is formed with one or more transverse-slots S which are adapted to register with similar slots 9 formed in the we rs 2. Extending transversely through the slots S and 9 of the draw bar 7 and webs 2 is a plurality of follower plat-es 10, one of which is arranged at the forward end and another of which-'is arranged at the rear end of each set of registering slots. Interposed between each pair of follower plates 1() is a plurality of coi! springs 11, preferablyv three in number.

For the purpose of preventing the coil springs 11 and follower' plates 1() from working in a transverse direction out of the slots in the draw bar 7 and webs 2, two retaining members 12 are employed, one of said retaining members being located on the outer side of each web 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The retaining members 1; are formed in their outer faces with grooves 13 to receive the rods 6 which serve not only to prevent t-hc outward displacement of said retaining members 12, but also to .hold them against longitudinal movement. lt will be obvious that by removing the rods (i and the rctainii'ig members 12, new springs and follower 'plates can be supplied to the draft device whenever necessary.

In order to provideI an improved safety attachment for use on passenger cars to prevent the withdrawal of the draw bar 7 from the draft timbers in the case of breakage of any of the springs, the rear end of said draw bar is provided wit-h a. cross-piece 14 which projects outward through slots 15 formed in the webs 2 so that if the coil springs should give way, the cross-piece would engage the forward ends of the slots l5 and prevent the complete withdrawal of the draw bar from the draft timbers.

The draw bar illustrated in Fig. 3 is intended particularly for-use upon freight cars. This draw b'ar is the same in construction as that illustrated in 'Fig'. 1, except that the safety attachmentis omitted.

The improved device of the present inven- IOO IOS

tion is strong, simple, durable and inexpenl said bottom plate, ilanges, lop plate and Sive in construction as well as thoroughbY l through the `grooves of said retaining memeflicient in operation. Y bers. Y 3 5 What is claimed is: f 3. Adeviceof the characterdescribed coin- 5 l. A device of the character described prising a draft member made up of a top comprising a slotted draft member having 2 plate having integral slotted webs formed spaced longitudinal flanges extending laterwith outwardly-directed flanges, a bottom ally from opposite sides thereof, a' slotted plate secured against said flanges and having 4o draw bar mounted in the draft member, folribs fitted upwardly into the space between :o lower plates extending through the slots of said webs, a slotted draw bar resting against the member and draw bar, a plurality of comsaid ribs between said webs, follower plates pression springs arranged between the folextending through the slots of said webs and lower plates, retaining inembers arranged draw bar, springs mounted between said fol- 45 between the laterally extending flanges of lower plates, retaining members fitted bethe draft member and engaging the ends o f tween said top plate and said flanges and the follower plates, and means on the draft i resting at their inner faces against said webs, member engaging the retaining member for said retaining members having grooves in holding the latter in place. their outer portions, rods extending through 5o 2. Adevioeof thecharacterdeseribedeomi said bottom plate, flanges, top plate and 2o prising a draft member made up of a top through the grooves of said retaining mein* plate having integral slotted webs formed bers, and a cross piece secured to the rear end with outwardly directed flanges, a bottom of said draw bar and extending outward plate secured against said flanges and having through said slotted webs to aet as a safety 55 ribs fitted upwardly into the space between attachment. z 5 said webs, a slotted draw bar resting against I n testimony that I claim the foregoing as said ribs between said webs, follower plates my own, I have hereto all'xed my signature extending through the slots of said webs and in the presence of two witnesses. i draw bar, springs mounted between said fol- D YID v STAPP lower plates, retaining members resting at 3o their inner faces against said webs, said re- 'Vitnesses:

taining members having grooves in their 7. D.V Woman, outer portions, and rods extending through I. H. ROGERS.

wir 

